Oklahoma has had many strong leaders and community advocates in our 115-year history. The achievements of Oklahoma women have not always been celebrated as they should, however there are several spots around the Sooner State paying tribute to women — some specific, some general — that make for great local travel destinations.
Outside of the State Capitol in Oklahoma City is a statue of a Native American woman titled “As Long as the Waters Flow.” Inside the Capitol sits a statue of Kate Barnard, the first woman elected to state office in Oklahoma. If you haven’t been inside lately, make some time for a visit. The lengthy building renovation project is complete and includes a museum showing the history of the Capitol. The nearby Florence’s Restaurant, owned and operated by Florence Kemp, makes for a nice companion stop, as it is Oklahoma’s first James Beard Foundation Award Winning restaurant.
Florence’s Restaurant
Do you know the name Alice Robertson? The Muskogee native was Oklahoma’s first congresswoman. She also founded a boarding school that eventually became Henry Kendall College, which today is known as the University of Tulsa. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee has a display that tells the rest of her story and more. Guided tours are available.
The town of Luther was the home of Elizabeth Threatt. The Threatt family was well-known in the region thanks to their farm and service station on Route 66 that became a known refuge for Black travelers. She and her husband ran the station for decades, but she is best known locally as an educator. She started her teaching career in 1932 at 21 years old. She was one of the first five Black students to graduate from the newly integrated University of Central Oklahoma in 1959. She won many awards for her community engagement over the years and the local library carries her name. Check out the Threatt Filling
Station next time you’re cruising Historic Route 66 (currently under renovation) and get a bite to eat at the Farmstead Cafe — a great locally sourced eatery run by friendly folks.
Ponca City’s“Pioneer Woman”
A towering statue of a woman in a bonnet, titled “Pioneer Woman,” stands outside of the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City. The bronze sculpture portrays a mother of confidence, leading her son into the frontier. It was commissioned by famous oilman E.W. Marland and erected in 1930; the museum came along a few decades later. The facility provides a showcase to those early days of Oklahoma settlement, including craft demonstrations and a Pioneer Woman Walk of Fame. It’s a great place to learn more about the many women that have been influential throughout Oklahoma’s history.
